Secretary of State Michael Pompeo has announced the United States government’s intent to work with United States Congress to provide over USD 9 million to the Maldives, as ‘further assistance’.
A statement from the Department of State says that this decision follows a meeting between Secretary Pompeo and Maldives Foreign Minister Abdulla Shahid, where they agreed on the importance of ‘Indo-pacific’ cooperation.
Today, @SecPompeo welcomed Maldivian Foreign Minister @abdulla_shahid to @StateDept. They discussed their common interest in deepening bilateral ties between the U.S. and #Maldives, and their shared commitment to a free and open #IndoPacific region. https://t.co/XmWZypXiH5 pic.twitter.com/boMHgzG2xw
— Robert Palladino (@StateDeputySPOX) February 20, 2019
Secretary Pompeo and Minister Shahid had also agreed on cooperating in aviation security and further collaborated through USAID (United States Agency for International Development).
Since assuming office in November, Foreign Minister Shahid has spoken immensely about Maldives’ debt to China and the steps the current government is taking to sustain the budget for this year.
The Foreign Ministry announced in February that the United Arab Emirates, where Minister Shahid and President Ibrahim Mohamed Solih visited, has agreed to loan a sum of USD 50 million as budgetary support.
The Maldives has been extended a billion-dollar credit line from India, which includes foreign reserve exchange and treasury-bonds, 200 million of which is earmarked for supplementing utility projects across the country.
